Engine starter



- May 25, 19.36. w M. EESE 2,041,861

ENGINE STARTER Filed Deo. l16, 193.?.A 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 9 o u a! I f o@d cb .,1 n" f az 76 7 Ia s' I s' am f /7/ *27 05'/ l. J6 l l l -I :l /5'4 i 55 -az x /a 4 4s 7 l I` 7,2 l' .3044 j 25 9': Lr N Kp-r u,

May 26, 1936.

5 Sheets-Sheet 2 (By f f May 26, 1936- l w. M. REEsE 2,041,861

ENGINE STARTER Filed Deo'. 16, 1932 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 /V VEN T012 May 261936 fw. M.I REEsE 2,041,861

ENGINE sTARTER v Filed Deo. 1e. 1932 s sheets-sheet 4rllllllll'1111111111111'O May 26, 1936. w. M. REESE 2,041,861

ENGINE STARTER Filed Dec. l, 1932 5 sheets-sheet 5 QM 59@ 89@ 59 59 if'4 i di i 505i l JNVENTO/P Patented May 26,1936

AUNITED sTATEs PATENT OFFICE ENGINE STARTER William M. Reese,Collingdale, Pa.

Application December/16, 1932, Serial No. 647,590

9 Claims.

The invention relates generally to electrical power generating equipmentand particularly to starters for internal combustion engines, land morespecically to the provision of a full automatic or semi-automaticmechanical-electric unit' which may be used for emergency'purposes toprovide an emergency source of electric current supply to automaticallysupply electrical translating devices with electricity when the mainsource of electric currentsupply fails or is interrupted.

An object of the invention is to provide mechanical means which whenreleased or placed in condition to function will automatically start theengine to which it is connected, said mechanical starting means beingautomatically reset by the operations of the engine when placed incondition to be reset and thereafter normally maintainedin anon-functioning condition, and the iinal resetting operations stoppingthe engine.

Another object of the invention is to provide a mechanical startingmeans connected with the crank shaft of an internal combustion engineand normally maintained in a non-functioning condition due to meanscontrolled by a source of electric current, said latter means uponfailure or interruption of the current causing the mechanical startingmeans to be released so as to function and thereby start the engine andthe actua' tion of said electrically controlled means due to the returnof the electric current supply placing the parts in condition to causethe engine to reset the starting means and the final resettingoperations stopping the engine.

Another object of the invention is to provide a mechanical startingmeans connected with the crank shaft of -an internal combustion engineand normally maintained in a non-functioning condition by manuallyoperative control means, the operation of which will release the starterf or initially rota-ting the engine crank shaft, said starter beingreset by the engine after the control means has been again manuallyactuated and the final resetting operations .resulting in stopping theengine.

A further object of the invention is to provide e a unit including aninternal combustion engine,

an electric generator operated by said engine and a mechanicall starternormally maintained in a non-functioning condition, said starter beingreleased or placed in condition to function by an. electrically governedcontrol means upon interruption cr failure of a main source of electriccurrent supply with which said control means as well as translatingdevices are connected, the electric generator thereafter being operatedby the engine to supply current to the same or other translatingdevices, said starting means being automatically reset by theoperationsof the engine when placed in condition to be reset due to operation ofthe control means upon the return of the main source of current and the.final resetting operations stopp'ng the engine and shutting o thesupply of current from the generator.

With these' and other ends in view, this invention consists in thedetails' of construction and combination of elements hereinafter setlforth and then specifically designated by the claims. In order thatthose skilled in the art to which this invention appertains mayunderstand how to make and use the same, I will describe itsconstruction iny detail, referring by numerals to the accompanyingdrawings forming apart of this application, in which:-

Fig. 1 is a view of the unit, partly in elevation and partly in sectionlooking toward a side of the engine and diagrammatically illustratingone way of making the electric connections.

Fig. 2v is a top' plan view thereof with the starter casing in sectionand the electrical connections eliminated.

Fig. 3 is a view looking at the inner end of the starter which is brokenaway to show details of construction.

Fig. 41s a. face view of one train of gears in the starter.

Fig. 5 is an end view of the unit opposite to the illustration in Fig.3, and on a slightly smaller scale, with the weight housing in section.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the upper gear shownin Fig. 4.

Fig. 7 is a similar view of the lower gear in the train illustrated inFig. 4.

Fig. 8 isan enlarged fragmentary section of the clutch on the line 8-8of Fig. 9.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged view of the starter mechanism with the casing invertical section and parts broken awayy and shown in section toillustrate details of construction.

Fig. l0 is a fragmentary sectional view showing a spring as a substitutefor the weight. Fig. 11 is a diagrammatic view of the electricalconnections between the main supply lines, the switching mechanism, thesolenoid and the generator.

Fig. 12 is a diagrammatical view of a double pole double throw switchand its electricall connections.

Fig.' 13 is a fragmentary view partlyin elevation and partly in sectionwith a diagram of a modied arrangement of electrical connections.

It is highly desirable and often essential that the electric currentsupply be practically uninterrupted in places of public gather'ings,such as theatres, schools, hospitals, hotels and dance or other halls,because should the main or outside current supply fail, the exit lightsin the theatres, schools and the like, or other necessary lights inhospitals and the like would be extinguished and electrically operatedapparatus stopped, possibly resulting in panics and death, or injury topersons attempting to leave the buildings in darkness.

In such cases it is really necessary to have an Aemergency source ofelectric current supply derived from a source separate from andindependent of the main or outside normal supply and that said emergencysource of supply be automatically placed in operation immediately uponfailure or interruption of said main or outside normal supply. Thisresult is attained by the use of the full automatic starter as will beobvious from the description below.

Whenever the unit is to be used only for electrical power generatingpurposes rather than as an emergency plant in places, such as farms orsmallsettlements, which are not supplied with electric current from apublic service or central commercial supply plant, the semi-automaticdevice may be used. In any such instance the unit may be placed inAoperation with practically no eort'whatsoever on the part of the persondesiring to start the device, and likewise, said person may place theequipment in condition to reset the starter and stop the engine so thatit will be ready to'again function when desired. In fact a small childcan carry outthe acts necessary to start and stop the plant:

To accomplish either of the above outlined pur; poses, a generator isdriven by an internal ccmbustion engine which is started bymechanismincluding a weight or equivalent means, such as a spring, to be releasedor placed in condition to function, either automatically or manually,whenever it is necessary or desirable that the unit operate. Inconnection with the automatic device there is also provided a controlmeans for releasing the holding mechanism which control means functionsin yaccordance with failure of the main, usual or outside source ofelectric current supply, said control means being normally held andreturnable to a neutral position upon restoration of the normal, usualor outside source of'current supply to permit return of the releasedholding mechanism to lts normal position whereby the starting mechanismwill be reset and cause the engine to stop. The elimination of thecontrol means provides the semi-automatic device and makes the samemanually operative.

In carrying out the invention, I5 represents any internal combustionengine or prirne mover which requires separate means for giving aninitial start thereto. For purposes of illustrating the invention saidinternal combustion engine is illustrated as one of the gasoline typeprovided with aj fuel intake manifold I6, an exhaust manifold I1, aspark plug I8 for each cylinder and a crank shank shaft I9 on one end ofwhich'is mounted the ily wheel 20. If necessary, the engine may beprovided with some means for cooling it and to this end there, has beenshown an intake 2I communieating with a water v:lacket and an outlet 22also- A communicating fwith the water jacket at apoint distant to theintake 2'I.

The referencey numeral 23 denotes any suitable electrical generatordriven by the engine either directly or indirectly, and for purposes ofillustration only said generator is shown as directly coupled to thecrank shaft of the engine by means of the coupling 24.

In order to supply the necessary high tension current to thespark plugsfor igniting the fuel charges drawn into the engine, a magneto 25 has-been shown, for purposes of illustration, suitably mounted in anydesirable location and driven by ly for purposes of illustration saidgenerator is shown as being actuated by a belt 28 or its equivaientwhich belt passes around the ily wheel 20 and a pulley 2-1 -on themagneto.

The starter for giving the initial rotation to the crank shaft of theengine is represented by the numeral 28 and preferably comprises a frame29 which may be in the form of an enclosure or casing for housingcertain parts of the mechanism, 'particularly the two sets or trains ofgears; In this frame is journalled the main shaft 30 which is suitablyconnected with the crank shaft of the engine, either directly orindirectly and may even be an extension of the crank shaft.

While the starter is illustrated as connected with the end ofthe engineopposite the generator, this 'is not absolutely necessary since it couldbe connected to the outer end of the generator shaft and likewise thegenerator could be connected with or, mounted on the main shaft 30.-These are merely details of assembly, but it is desirable that it beknown that the invention is not limited to any specific relativelocations of the parts. f A countershaft 3l is also journaled in theframe 29 and has a sheaveA 32 fixed thereto as by a key 33, Fig. 9,`andon this sheaveis wound any suitable flexible cable 34, such as rope,chain. wire-or belt of any cross sectional shape, and said cable maypass over a guide pulley 35 mounted in any sultable and'desirablelocation with a weight 3B secured to the free end of said cable wherebythe downward movement of said weight will impart a rotary motion in onedirection to the countershaft 3|. The weight and related partsconstitutes a mechanical power means and' any'other power means, forinstance a spring, may be substituted therefor, as will be later againmentioned.

On the countershaft 3| is mounted a gear wheel 31 of a gear train 38.Said gear may be fixed to the shaft or it may be revolved in onedirection with the shaft and be freed from said shaft when the latter isrevolved in the opposite direction. 'I'his can be accomplished by theuse of any suitable ratchet mechanism, and for purposes of illustration,a number of balls 38, Figs. 6, 7, and 9, have been shown as suitablyrecessed within some part of the gear wheel 31 between the circumferenceof the shaft v3l and arcuate surfaces 40, eccentric 'to the axis of thegear whereby ball receiving pockets are formed which taper from onefendto the other between the surface 40 and the circumference of the shaftso that the balls can wedge between the surface 40 and the circumferenceof the shaft to bind or connect the gear wheel with the shaft wheneither is revolved in one direction and wherebythe balls can also befreed to permit rotation of either the shaft or gear wheel independentof the other. In order to insure the functioning of the balls regardlessof their positions about the shaft, they may be normally forced towardthe smaller ends of the ball receiving pockets by springs Il. Theadvantage of using a ratchet mechanism in conthe engine either directlyor indirectly, but mereaccusa jtamme gear s1 isjtofpermit the geartrain. to remain still under certain conditions which `will be-apparentfrom later description.

L When the fcountershaft* 3| is revolved by 'the' fallingfweight, thegear-wheel `31gand shaft will be revolving in the direction of the arrowadjacent they gear in Fig. 9. The gear 31 meshes Vwith anintermediategear 42 which is mounted upon a stubor trunnionfshaft 43carried by the frame 23 sojthat, said intermediate gear will be revolvedin thejshaft and gear to revolve together when either vis revolved inone direction and permitting either toy revolve independently of the`other when rotatedin'theopposite direction, andV since the ratchetmechanism is the 'same as above described,`fexcept for the .direction ofoperation.

rference numerals vwm be applied a) the 'ratchet in Figs. 6 and 7. Thedifierenc'ein'the direction of operation will be obvious by-referencestoFig. v4.

'me einem; revolved mme @ummm of ithearrow theretojin-'Fig 9, when thesaid, gearis'connectedfn lthe shaft 30, said shaft will begrevolvedinthe same direction and impart the necessary initial rotation to' thecrank shaft ofthe; engine jfor starting the latter and alsocausingthe'magneto 2l to function to supply the electric'currentto'thespark plugs for firing the lchargesoflfueldrawn into the enginecylinders through intake manifold i3 from'any source `ofsupply, such-asaireservoir tank.

hs'soon as the engine begins to operate due to theailrins of the fuelfedthereto 'and the speed ofxthefshaft exceeds that of the geartrain,the revolve independently lof the said searftrain the ratchetmechanismin the gear'44'will free the latter from the shaft 34 andwillcontinue to operate without in :wfayailecting' the starter, and thegear train will fas soon'as the prime mover has spent itsforce,'andsaidl gear train will remain motionless theoperation is started toresetthe prlmefmover, and if the gear 31 has a ratchet -mechanismsaid geartrain 3 3 will remain motionless(` during theftim'e that the prime'mover is being reset, or the "ratchet 'may be eliminated from gear311inwhichicase the geartrain 3B will revolve Whilethe prime'fmover is beingreset, but in either casefaaidfvgear'train 33 will 4 not aifectthe shaft33 while the 'prime mover is being reset'. The operation of the engine`will actuate the generator `23.1 andjcause itto generate electriccurrent for VIn'forder to return the weight to-its elevated position` orreset the mechanical power means, theoountelrshaft 3| has a gear 45mounted thereonfsoas-to revolve :independently thereof atcertainatimesgand'undercertain conditions is connectedor clutched to.the shaft 3| whereby the twqwillrevolvertogether, and for this purpose.I hav shown a ball race 46 connected withhsaid shaftj' 3 I, through ltheI medium of the sheave' '32, whiclig-has been done only forconvenience of illustratin.' "A 'tapered or cone clutch member 41 is`movable longitudinally of the shaft ,3| -forto and `fromovement withinthe ball race and said clutchmember 41] revolves with thegear 45, andforjthis purpose itis shown as spllned at 4 3 to the hub ofthe gear 45,and said clutch member is normallyforced in 'an inward directionrelative to the ball race by a spring 50. i

On the shaft 30 is fixed a gear B4, as by a key 85, which gear mesheswith the gear 45 so that when the clutch member 41 is moved inward it'will slightly clamp the balls 51 between the cone portion of saidclutch member andthe walls 53 of the ball race. As soonas aslightpressure is applied to the balls and due to the fact that thegear45 and the clutch member 41 are revolving in the direction of the arrowin Fig. 9, the

balls will be moved toward the smaller ends of the ball receivingpockets so as to clutch said 'clutch member 41 to the ball race which,in effect,"

is clutching the gear 45 to the shaft 3| which will cause -said shaft 3|to revolve with the gear 45.A The gear train will operate from the shaft3| but if the ratchet mechanism is used in the .gear 31, the shaft 3|will be free to revolve without actuating the gear train 33.

The main shaft 30 being revolved by the engine, the gear 64 will berevolved in the same direction and will transmit motion to the gear 45andwhen the latter is freed from the shaft 3| 1 4Wihll/ iuerely revolvefreely thereon, but when tched to said shaft 3|, as herein shown, due tothe inward movement of the clutch member, said gear45 will revolve thecountershaft 3| in the direction opposite to the way it was revolvedbythe falling of the weight 36 and therefore the cable A34 will be woundupon the sheave 32 andthe weight elevated. As soon as the weightvreaches its highest elevation and is stopped by contact withsomestationarvelement. to be' presentlydescribed. the engine will be"choked" or stopped and everything will remain at a standstill untilsuch time as the gear 45 may be again freed from the shaft 3|.

After the weighthas been elevated and the engine stopped, all of theparts will be at rest and since the gear 31 may be and the gear 45 is,in effect, thenfastened to the shaft 3| and since the gear 4 4 is,ineffect, and the gear 34 actually is locked to the shaft' 30, theapparatus will be held in the at rest position with the weight ele'-vated until such time as the clutch element is moved outward.

As the weight 33 is elevated, lit is advisable to gradually lessen itsspeed and cushion the shock against the stop which may be any Stationaryl element, such as rafters, cross bars or equivalent means 66 and thecushioning meansV may be a y spring 61 orany device' that willaccomplish the obiect. For instance, it might be a block of rubber.'I'he weight should be-also slowly arrested in its downward movement,which can be accomplished by a spring 63 or other suitable means or 'bya dash-pot 33 having a relief valve 10.

It is obvious that the weight may freely move up and. down in .any openspace or any suitable enclosure. For convenience of illustration only, Ihave shown said weight as housed in a tube 1| and said tube maybelocated on a building, within a building, on the ground or even belowthe ground, and such tube may be of solid mate-l rial or it maybeforaminous, wire screening or lattice work.` l l In order to move theclutch men'ber 41 in a direction opposite to that imparted by the spring50, said clutch member is shown as provided with a groove 5| withwhichcoactsthe shifting fork 52 fixed to the axle 53, the latter carrying a`lever 54 positioned in the path of travel of the core B5 of. a solenoid53 suitably supported inblade with the movable core of the solenoid. asby 'a link 84.

As shown in Fig. 1, this switch may have two contact terminals 85 and 88with which the knife blade coacts and' one of the main supply lines, asconductor 6|, is connected to one of said contact terminals, as 85whllethe other contact terminal as 86, is connected by a conductor 81 withone side of the generator 23 and the knife blade is connected by aconductor 88 with one side of the electrical' translating devices 88,such as electric lamps. The other side of the translating devices isconnected to the main supply line conductor 68 and the other generatorlead or conductor 98.

'I'he above arrangement permits the normal supply of electric current topass through the conductor 6|, contact terminal 85, knife bladeswitching element 82, and conductor 88, as well as the conductor 88 tothe electrical translating devices 88, since with the normal currentsupply being fed to the lines the movable core of the solenoid will bein its elevated or raised position, but upon failure of the normalcurrent supply, the solenoid will be de-energized and its core will dropthereby withdrawing the knife blade switching element 82 from thecontact terminal 85 and throwing it into the contact terminal 86, and assoon as the generator begins to function at a suicient speed to producevelectric current, said current will be supplied to the translatingdevices 88 through the conductors 88 and 81, the latter forming a partof the circuit through the contact terminal 86, knife blade 82 andconductor 88.

Of course it will be obvious that theA translating devices 88 can besupplied directly' by current from the main source of supply, and othertranslating devices may be supplied with current directly from thegenerator 23. For instance, as

shown in Fig. 13, the translating devices 89 may be the lamps in anormal lighting system of a buildyet with the generator 23 so that whenthe normal lights 89B are extinguished due to failure of the main orusual source of supply and the generating plant is started, theemergency lights will be lit by the current from the generating plant.

Also if desirable, a double pole double throwY switch 86, Fig. 12, canbe used for connecting one set of electrical translating devices witheither the main or generator sources of supply. In the latter instancethe main supply lines 68 and 6| terminate at the contacts 91. and 98 ofthe switch and the conductors 81 and 88 from the generator 23 terminateat the contacts 98 and |88 of said switch while conductors |8| and |82connect with the switch blades |83 and |84. The switch blades areconnected by the link 84 with the core of the solenoid 56.

As intimated in the beginning of this description, any suitable orequivalent operating means can be used in place of the weight 36, andone such means that is suggested is a spring similar to a clock springhaving one end xedto the shaft 3| as the movable element and the otherend fixed to someipart of the frame 29 as the anchorage or stationaryelement so that when said spring is wound up in the same manner as thecable 34 is wound, it will upon release revolve the shaft A 3| so as toimpart motion through the gear train 38, the main shaft 38 for revolvingthe crank shaft of the engine and when said shaft 3| is revolved in thereverse direction from the engine V- through the gears 64 and '45, saidspring will be rewound for a future starting operation. The

enable a manufacturer to produce a compact self-contained and simpleunitary starter structure'that may be shipped to the location where itis to be used in a completely assembled condition so that it will beonly necessary to make the electrical connections and attach the mainshaft 38 `with the crank shaft of the engine.

In the full automatic electrical generating apparatus when the main orordinary source of current supply fails or is interrupted, the solenoid56 will be de-energized and its movable core 55 will drop and strike thefree lend of the lever 54 causing the cone clutch member 41 to be movedoutward relative to the ball race for releasing the balls therein,thereby freeing the gear 45 from the shaft 3| thus, in eifect, unlockingor unclutching the starting mechanism. Immediately the means forrotating the shaft 3| will function to revolve the same and transmitmotion through the gear train 38 to the shaft 38 and since the latter isconnected with the crank shaft of the engine, said engine will be giventhe initial start necessary to cause it to operate.

simultaneously with the starting of the operations of the startingmechanism, the magneto 25 will be actuated so as to supply the necessaryelectric current to the spark plugs for firing the charges of fuel drawninto the engine and there- A`after the engine will continue itsoperations so long as it is supplied with fuel or until such time asanother condition arises, which will purposely but automatically stopthe engine, as will be presently referred to. The operation of theengine will drive the generator 23 so .that it will supply a suitableemergency electric current as a substitute for the main or usual supply.

With the beginning of the operations of thr starting device, theelectrical translating devices will be switched over from the mainsupply lines to the generator supply lines, if switching mechanism isutilized, but Where no switching mechanism is used, such translatingdevices as are connected with the generator supply lines will be causedto function when the translating devices connected with the main supplylines stop functioning due to failure or interruption of the maincurrent supply. i

Likewise, as soon as the starter mechanism has its initial movement.means is operated to supply a cooling mediumto the engine and the supplyof said cooling medium is to be discontinued at the time the startingmechanism is reset.

So long as the engine continues to run, the cooling medium if from apractically inexhaustible source ofv supply will keep the enginey cooland the power generated in the generator 23 will bev fed to thegenerator supply line for use as desired.

At such time as the current is restored in the main supply line, thesolenoid will be re-energized and its movable core will be drawn upwardor elevated, thereby relieving the pressure from the lever 54 permittingthe spring 58 to act for moving the cone clutch element 41 inwardlyrelative to the ball race 46, which will place the balls 51 under aslight pressure between the circumfere'nce of said -clutch element 41and the walls 58 in the ball race. Thisslight pressure in connectionwith the action'of the springs on the balls will cause the latter toclamp or clutch the gear 45 to the countershaft 3| and since the gear 45is revolving at the time of the actuation of the clutch element 41 asabove outlined, said countershaft 3| will begin to revolve therewith butin a direction opposite to the direction to which it was first revolvedso as to rewind or reset the means which revolved the cuntershaft forstarting the engine. Any other suitable clutch can be used. During thisreverse movement of the countershaft the ratchet mechanism in gear 44will permit the gear train 38 to revolve free from the shaft 30, but ifthe gear 31 is provided with a ratchet mechanism, as shown, then lsaidgear train 38 will remain stationary during said reverse movement of thecountershaft.y As the means for revolving the countershaft in aprogressive direction nears the reset position, it will gradually form adrag upon said countershaft and when the dragging or hold-back actionhas increased to such an extent that the engine can no longer functionagainst the same, said engine .will come to a standstill and al1 of theparts will 'I'o utilize the invention-as a semi-automatic' apparatus,particularly where there is no main supply of current, the solenoid,switch and component parts may be eliminated. With such an arrangementthe lever 54 may be actuated manually and means provided to hold saidlever in a dep'essed position against the action of the spring 50 unlesssaid spring is eliminate'd so that the lever 54 can be manually operatedin either direction.

It is thus seen that in the full automatic or the semiautomatic devicethe starting mechanism after being released or placed in a condition'toactuate will start the engine and then remain inactive until such timeas the mechanism is placed in condition for winding up the means thatthe parts of the generating plant may bef mounted or supported in anysuitable manner, the frame of the starter, the engine and the generatorhave all been shown with bas'e cleats or flanges 9 I 92 and 93respectively, which may be used to support said parts upon a base 94.

In4 lieu of the weight and its flexible cable a spring 95 may be moimtedwithin the sheave `32 with one end of said spring connected to the hubof said sheave and the other end xed to any suitable part of the casingor housing 28.

Of course it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limitedto the exact details of construction herein shown and described as thesemay be varied within the limits of the appended claims without departingfrom. the spirit of the invention.

Having thus fully described the invention, what is claimed as new landuseful is:-

l. In a device of the character described," an internal combustionengine, means normally at rest but when in motion imparting an initialmovement to the internal combustion engine, and mechanism to transmitmotion from the engine to said means for resetting said means to itsnormal at rest position afterisaid means has functioned to impart thesaid initial movement-to the engine and the same mechanism stopping theengine by 'the counteraction of said means after said means has reachedits at rest position beyond which said means cannot go.

2. In a device of the character described, an internal combustionengine, mechanical Apower means normally at rest, mechanism to transmita 9 progressive motion from the mechanical lpower bustion engine whenthe mechanical power means is set in motion, and other mechanism totransmit motion from the engine to'the mechanical power. means in aretrograde direction for resetting said mechanical power means after ithas functioned to impart the said initial movement to the engine, thesaid other mechanism stopping the engine by the counteraction of saidmechanical power means after it has reachedits at rest position. each ofsaid mechanisms being inoperative during the time theI other isfunctioning. l

3. In a device of the character described, a shaft, an engine,mechanical power means for revolving the shaft, lmechanism fortransmitting motion from said shaft to the crankshaft of the engine inone'direction only and capable of being freed from said shafts to permitthe first men' 1 tioned one to revolve in a reverse direction and topermit the crankshaft to revolve independently of said mechanism, andother mechanism for transmitting motion from the crankshaft to saidfirst mentioned shaft to reset said mechanical power means by revolvingsaid rst mentioned shaft in y a reverse direction to the direction it isrevolved by the mechanical power means and said second named mechanismbeing freed from the ilrst mentioned shaft while the rst named mechanismis functioning, said mechanical power means through the medium of saidsecond named mech-l anism stalling and stopping the engine bycounteraction of said mechanical power means when said mechanical powermeans has been completely reset.

,4. 1n c device of the kind described, c nmain shaft, a countershaft,mechanical power means to revolve the countershaft, mechanism connectedwith said shafts, said mechanism having means for clutching the same tothe shafts whereby a progressive motion may be transmitted from thecountershaft to the main shaft but which will permit release of themechanism from said shafts when the direction of motion of thecountershaft is reversed or the speed of the driven element exceeds thatof the driving element, other mechanism for transmitting motion from themain shaft to the countershaft, and clutch means for clutching saidsecond named mechanism to the countershaft when the latter is to berevolved in a reverse direction to reset themechanical power lpowermeans through the medium of said otherv mechanism after said mechanicalpower means has been reset.

5. The structure set forth in claim 4, in combination with a source ofelectricity, means controlled by said source of electricity to actuatethe clutching means for unclutching the reversing mechanism from thecountershaft upon failure of the supply of electricity, and means toclutch the reversing mechanism to the countershaft upon the restorationof the supply of electricity.

6. In an electrical systei.-l in combination with a main source ofelectrical supply, an emergency lighting unit including a generator, aninternal combustion engine for driving the same, mechanb motion may betransmitted from the countershaft to the main shaft but which willpermit release ot the' mechanism from said shafts when the direction ofmotion of the countershaft is reversed or the speed of the drivenelement exceeds that of the driving element, other mechanism fortransmitting motion from the main shaft to the counvtershaft, clutchmeans for clutching said second -Y nism from the countershaft yuponfailure of the supply of electricity, and means to clutch the reversingmechanism to the countershaft upon the restoration of the supply ofelectricity.

7. In a device of the character described, an engine, a countershaft,mechanical power means for revolving the countershaft, mechanism fortransmitting motion from said countershaft to the crankshaft of saidengine in only one direction, means to releasably connect said mechanismwith said crankshaft whereby the latter may revolve independently ofsaid mechanism and the rst mentioned shaft' revolve in a reversedirection, and other mechanism including electricallyv controlledmeansfor automatically causing transmission of motion from thecrankshaft to said countershaft for revolving the latter in a reversedirection for resetting said mechanical power means and-said secondnamed mechanism being freed from the countershaft while the first namedmechanism is functioning, and said second named mechanism stoppingtheengine by the counteraction of the mechanical power means after saidmechanical power means has been reset.

8. In combination, an internal combustion engine including a crankshaft, a generator actuated thereby, a countershaft suitably journalledin a supporting frame, a weight, means to connect said weight with thecountershaft whereby the descent of said weight will impart a rotarymotion to the countershaft, means to transmit motion from saidoountershaft to the crank shaft of the engine in one direction only forimparting an Ainitial starting movement to the engine, said meansincluding mechanism whereby it will be freed from the crank shaft whenth'e latter exceeds the critical speed of the.

countersha'ft and also permitting a reverse movement of saidcountershaft, means to transmit.

motion to the countershaft in a reverse direction from the crank shaft.'said means including mechanism for clutching said means to thecountershaft whereby said means may be freed from the countershaft topermit its rotation in a progressive direction, the reverse movement ofsaid countershaft elevating the weight, a main source of electricalsupply, means ,for automatically eecting operation of the clutch meanswhen the main source fails, said clutching means automatically clutchingthe means for driving the countershaft in a reverse direction to said'countershaft tocause the weight to be elevated or reset upon therestoration of the main source of current, a magneto for supplyingcurrent to the firing means of the engine actuated by the revolving ofthe crank shaft, means to supply a cooling medium to the engine, meansto control the supply of said cooling medium, and means to operate thelast mentioned means at the beginning of the descent ofthe weight andagain when said weight reaches approximately its highest elevation.

9. In combination, an internal combustion engine including a crankshaft, a generator actuated thereby, a countershaft suitably journalledin a supporting frame, aA spring to impart a rotary motion to thecountershaft, means to transmit motion from said countershaft to thecrank i shaft of the engine in one direction only forl imparting aninitial starting movement to the engine, said means including mechanismwhereby it will be freed from the crank shaft when the latter exceedsthe critical speed of the countershaft and also permitting a reversemovement of said countershaft, means to transmit motion to thecountershaft in a reverse direction from the crankshaft, said meansincluding mechanism for clutching said means to the countershaft wherebysaid means may be freed from the countershaft to permit its rotation inaprogressive direction, the reverse movement of said countershaftrewinding the spring, a main source of electrical supply, means forautomatically effecting operation of the clutch means when lthe mainsource fails, said clutching means automatically clutching the means fordriving the countershaft in a reverse direction to said countershaft tocause the spring to be rewound upon the restoration of the main sourcevof current, a magneto for supplying current to the ring means of theengine actuated by the revolving of the crank shaft, means to supply acool` ing medium to the engine, means to control the supply of saidcooling medium,land means to operate the lastmentioned means at thebeginning of the unwinding of the spring and again when said spring isapproximately wound up.

i WILLIAM M. REESE.

